Automatic interlock for pusher machines and coke guide machines



March 18, 1952 P. H. LAVELY 2,589,266

AUTOMATIC INTERLOCK FOR PUSHER MACHINES AND COKE GUIDE MACHINES Filed Jan. 14. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l :inventor P604 o wneo La V54 r:

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Gttorneg March 18, 1952 P. H. LAvELY 2,589,256

AUTOMATIC INTERLOCK FOR PUSHER MACHINES AND COKE GUIDE MACHINES Filed Jan. 14, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 :inventor PAUL Hon/612a La vez. 7

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Cittorneg March 18, 1952 P. H. I Avl-:LY v 2,589,266

AUTOMATIC INTERLOCK FOR PUSHER MACHINES AND COKE GUIDE MACHINES Filed Jan. 14, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Snventor Paw. Howmo La/EL. r

Patented Mar. 18, 1952 AUTOMATIC 'INTERLOGK Fon PUSHER MACHINES AND COKE GUIDE MACHINES Paul Howard Lavely, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Koppers Company, Inc., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application January 14, 1947, Serial No. 721,910 In Great Britain January v16, 1946 7 Claims.

l Thisinvention `relates in :general to improve- "ments interlocking apparatus between the :pusher-,machine `and the coke guide machine on cppositegsides of horizontal coke oven batteries,

for making certain that the operator of the pusher machine, :on one side of the battery, can .actuatethe pusher ram -for pushing coke from f-'only ,thosefoven chambers from which the operatoren thezcoke discharge side, on the yopposite side nf the battery; y,has the coke oven door removed 'andout vof the way, and the coke-guide finlplacejon vthe `doer `frame, for passing the in- -candescen-t coke over the coke side bench to a -coke "quenching 4car, or wharf or other means :for-receiving the finished,incandescent coke cake `for quenching.

yMore particularly the vpresent invention is directedto Aimprovements in the automaticity of loperationof pneumatically actuated interlocking vmechanism'for the aforesaid purpose, and of the type comprising fluid-pressure lines individualized rto the respective oven chambers, and ,leading from :adjacent-the doorways `on the coke I side of the batteryfto the pusher side of the battery where lthey 'may individually actuate operating meansiora limit switch controlling an electrical circuit, also under the control of the operator of `the pusher machine, for advancing a reciprocating pusher ram into an oven chamber,

from whichhe has previously removed the pusher .side `coke l oven door, to push the finished coke from :the -chamber, out through the coke side `doorway,-thiwaugh the ycoke guide, onto a quenchcar or coke wharf or other apparatus for receiving lthe finished incandescent coke cake.

In such form of apparatus the pneumatic actulation'ofindivi'dual iiuid pressure lines, for operating-the limit vswitch in the pusher ram operating circuit, :is controlledfindividually by the co- `action with a portion of the lines Vat the Ycoke fside docrwaysv'of'a means operable from the coke j 4ilfiiide machine, in its lposit-ion when `the A`coke sg-uide. is'in place -on `the opened oven chamber doorway, :for causing, on the one hand, pneumatic pressure-in the lines to'actuate, and on the "other hand release, `the operating V'means on the pusher hmaehineon the opposite side of the battery, `for @operating -the limit -switch, in the Ielectrical ciris'itheprovisionof meansfor automatically interrupting the circuitrfor the-motor for 'driving the cokefgnide vmachine rfrom chamber to Ichamber 2 along the battery, when the aforesaid Amea operable from said machine for co-action #with the individual iiuid pressure lines :is lso ycodaeting for operation of the pusher ram on the opposite side of the battery.

A further important feature of the present invention isthe like provision of means-for auto.- matically interrupting the circuit for the motor fordriving the pusher machine from chamber to chamber along side the pusher side vofy the battery, when the apparatus is interlocked `pneumatically from the coke guide side in a manner to actuate the limit switch for the pusher ram. permitting its circuit to advance the pusheriram.

A further important feature of thepresentinvention is the provision of improved means employing the movement of the pusher machine Vinto position at the ends of the respective oven chamber, for automatically connecting the pusher machine portion of the interlocking mechanism individually with the individual fluid pressure lines, whenthe latter are .pneumatically set for actuation of the pusher ram yfor the respective oven chambers. y

The present invention, further, combines with the last mentioned feature, the novel `provision for manual interconnection of the pusher Lram control mechanism with'the individual fluid ,pressure lines for optional, but alternative, operation as may be required under the exigenciesgof coke plant operation to alleviate conditions-which otherwise might interfere with the necessary timely carrying out of the coke oven battery pushing schedule, which often is a matter fof minutes, and unless timely attended to might otherwise be of serious consequences in overcoking of coke and over-heating of the roven masonry.

The invention has for-further objects Tsuch other improvements and such other operative advantages or results as may be found `to -=ob tain in .the apparatus vhereinafter described `and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing iforming .parltof this specication, and showing, for -purposesfzof exemplication, preferred .form of apparatus in which the invention is embodied and ;,pract'ised, without however, limiting the claimed invention specifically to such illustrated instance:

vFigure 1 is a transverse section partly in elevation illustrating a conventional form ofi-coke oven, `pusher machine, landcoke guide 'machine equipped with automatic control apparatuse'mbodyinfg` the presentinvention; Y

Figure la is an enlarged end elevational view vvvv'formed -within the lheating walls I2.

of a portion of Fig. 1, illustrating the mechanism, for employing the movement of the pusher machine for automatically connecting the pusher machine portion of the interlocking mechanism individually with the individual fluid pressure lines;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side elevational view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, to illustrate -the relationship of thev coke guide machine relative to the individual nuid pressure lines.

Referring to the drawings, I represents a conventional form of coke oven battery of horizon-` tal by-product coke ovens of the underjet, crossregenerative type.

The battery comprises a series of alternate coking chambers II and intermeditae heating walls I2, which extend transversely of the battery I0 .from the coke side I3 to the pusher side I4. These are supported by spaced transverse pillar walls I5 forming between them regenerator spaces or `chambers I6, which are communicably connected by regenerator ducts I1 and discharge ports (not '-shown) with combustion ilues (not shown) The whole lsuper-structure is ofmasonry which is supported '-on a concrete oven-mat or pad I8 which is supported above accessible basement passageways I9 v'by-means of transverse beams 20, and longitudinal beams 2I at the opposite sides of the battery, Vthe beams' 20 being in turn supported on columns 22-frestingon 'a foundation mat or pad (not shown). l

VAThe cokingchambers I I are closed on the coke 'discharge side by means of removable replaceable A doors-23,l and on the pusher side by means of "similar doors 24. The doors 24 are, as usual, provided with a leveller door in their tops for 'the insertion and reciprocation of the usual f leveller-bar (not shown) from the pusher ma- Uchine 25. forv levelling the coal, when newly 'charged into the oven chambers through charging holes therefor in the oven roof 26.

f' The gas distilled off during carbonization in the'respective oven chambers I I flows oil through their gas collecting crown spaces 21 to an offtake '28jat one end in the oven roof 26, which oitakes ,f 284 are leach provided, as usually, with an ascen- 'vsion pipe connecting with a gas collecting main f'jtnot shown).

' For heatingthe oven the regenerators are, usufally. connected in pairs with the hetaing lues, for jalternate operation, for inflow of air and gas -separately and simultaneously, and for concurrent outflow of waste gas, in the two regenerative reversal periods'or phases.` These regenerators Yare also connected up, as usually, with a lean gas l'and an airsupply (not shown) for the purpose, fand the regenerators are also provided with air cnnectionsfor the regenerators for lean gas preheating,- for optional alternative rich-fuel gas underfiring of the ovens. For this latter purpose, each combustion flue is, conventionally provided with vertical .underjet riser-ducts (not .'shown) leading .from the basement passageways upwardlythrough the pillar walls separating the i regenerators to the individual combustion flues in ,the heating walls.` Y f,

' The masonry of the battery is tied together by vmeans of buckstays` 29 at the coke and pusher sidesy of the battery. Thesebuckstays are disposed vertically alongside the ends of the heating walls I2I and are' supported at their lower ends by the beams2 I, in spaced relation so asto leave' the doorways of the oven chambers accessible for pushing of coke from the coking chambers. For this purpose there is provided a coke-bench 30 and a pusher bench or platform 3 I.

For pushing the finished coke from the ovens individually, there is provided, on the pusher side of the battery, a pusher machine indicated generally at 25 which travels alongside the battery, from oven chamber to oven chamber, by means of a carriage 32 having wheels 33 riding on rails 34 at ground level.

This pusher machine carries, as conventional, the reciprocable leveler bar, with electric motor drive and circuit therefor (not shown), a coke oven door extracting and replacing machine, with electric motor operated mechanism and electric circuit therefor (not shown), a motor drive, with circuit therefor (also all not shown) for propelling the entire pusher machine alongside the battery on the rails, in addition to the pusher ram 35', and electric motor drive mechanism 36 vtherefor, including an electric circuit for reciprocating the pusher ram 35 forwardly into, through, and

reversely, `backwardly out of the respective oven chambers. 1

On the coke discharge side of the oven battery, in normal operation, the doors on that end of the oven chambers are removed and the finished incandescent coke cake discharged individually in accordance Vwith a predetermined sequence,

termed the pushing schedule in this art.

For this purpose, as conventional a coke guide machine 31 is provided having a truck 38 with wheels 39 which ride on rails '40 on the coke bench 30. This coke guide machine 31 als'o carries a door extractor machine 4I for extracting and replacing the coke-side oven-doors individually. 'Ihis door extractor machine is indicated diagrammatically at 4I. It is also provided with an electric motor driven operated mechanism and electric circuits for the various manipulations of this extractor machine. The coke guide machine 31 also carries a motor and electric circuit therefor (not shown) for propelling the entire 'coke guide machine along the coke bench from voven door 23 to oven door 23. In addition it has an operating platform and a coke guide 42, which guide is reciprocable into and out of engagement with the end of the opened doorway of lan oven mechanically pressing the coke guide into and out of engagement with the ends of the coke oven chamber doorway between the buckstays.

For convenience of operation, the coke guide is mounted, as shown, on a separate truck, lconnected at 43 as a trailer to the rest of the'coke vguide machine, the door extractor machine 4I is disposed near the opposite end of the coke guide machine 31 andA the remaining equipment and operating platform disposed between the two.

In this type of coke oven, it is customary to push and charge the ovens in a regular sequence but so that adjacent oven chambers are not pushed consecutively, and so great caremust be exercised by the operators of the two machines, who can not see or talk with each other because of the intervening coke oven battery, to adhere strictly to the pushing schedule.

The operator of the coke guide machinel first removes the cokey oven doors 230i the cpke oven designated in they pushing schedule and then moves `the coke-guidemachine along thev battery.

at tha-t end of this same Joven chamber and after its removal f aligns-thepusher ram with ''the open doorway preparatory Ato ladvancing theram 35 into the opened chamber. Upon a givensignal the pusher machine operator manipulates [the controller for the motor /36 to advance lthe/ram 35 and push the hot coke cake horizontally through and rout of the chamber, through llthe coke guide 42 tothe quenching vcar for vwharf (not shown)- onthe oppositeside oirthebattery. The pusher ram extends all the way tlfrroughthe oven chamber to the opposite-doorway. It is then retracted fully from the -oven'charnber and over the pusher machine. "The 'two doors are then replaced. A new coal charge is lled in through the oven roof, and this charge levelledY byl reciprocation of the leveller ybar from-fthe pusher machine through the leveller` door inthe pusher side coke oven door While it is sealedfgas tight on the-end of the ovenchamber; After this Vis done the operators operate 4the motors topropel their-respective machines along the battery sides tothe next oven designated on the pushing schedule, and' repeat there the same operation-s.

Because of the blindness of this coordination,

and the staggering ofA the ovens being pushed, there is always the chance that the-operator of the pusher machine may remove -a door 24 from an oven which does not correspond with the oven from which the door 23 has been removed by the `operator of the coke guide machine, since each operator may, at times through error remove a different door from that called for by the schedule. And, on signal, the operator of the pusher'Y machine, not knowing of the error,A may cause the ram 35 to enter and push an oven chamber from which the door 23 has not been removed, or the coke guide 42` properly set, in place, at the opposite end of the coke oven` that the pusher machine operator is pushing. Seriousdamage may result because of the pressure exerted on the oven; structure and on the coke side door by the action of the powerful ram.

To preventthis there is conventionally provided iluid pressure oper-ated means, pneumatically operated, and individualized to the respectiveoven chambers, to prevent the pusher ram from being advanced into an oven chamber until the coke oven door on the opposite end of that chamber has been removed,` and` the coke guide is in place, and all under the control of an operator on the coke guide machine.

This has taken the form of* separate fluid pressure lines, each individual to one of the oven fchambersof the battery. In the present embodiment of this inventionA each line 44Jextends ,from the oven doorways, at a level accessible to an operator on the coke guide machine 31, downwardly alongside of the adjacent buckstay 29 -to thelevel of the transverse beams 20, and thence across the battery underneath the oven mat I8, through the accessible basement passageways i9., `to the` pusher side of theV battery, thence upwardly to beneath the `pusher side bench 3l" andv outwardly to a position accessible from the pusher 75 machine. 45 are provided. operable Vwhen pneumatic pressure is imposed in the-individual lines 44,490` actu:- ate operating means 46 for a limit switchcomprising means inthe vform of an actuating-'blade 14 for closing an interruption v48m the form of spaced apart contacts in the electrical circuit 49 for the motor v36 Vvfor driving the pusher ram. This switch blade14`clcses the interruption A'48 of the circuit A4S! vto permitv the' ,operator-v to drive the ramainwardly' into ,tl'ieV oven chambers when the pneumatic` pressure is imposed on the nactuating means 45 inthe respectivepipe lines `and is 4nenn-ally urged tofmovetoopen position, which it does when theiluid pressure is oi in theV lines, and when the operating means 46, for the limit switch on pusher machine 2'5 is disconnected from the fluid pressure lines.

TheseA lines 44 are all individually controlled from the vcoke guidev machine by; its operator by the co-action of means accessible only from `the coke guide machine `with only one of the lines ata time, forcausingl fluid vpressure (pneumatic) in the line to loperate the actuating means 45 on the pusher side to actuate the operating means 46 for vthe limit switch, to close the interruption 48 in the electrical circuit 49 lfor the motor 3Std 'advancey the pusher ram 35 when the operator of the pusher'machine operates the controller-for that purpose. Converse operation byl the coke guide machine operator causes a drop in the pneumatic pressure inl the line, and the switch for the pusher ram motor circuit opens, immediately preventing further vadvance movement, accidently or' otherwise, 'by the operator of the pusher machine.

In the present embodiment of the invention. the pneumatic pressure is supplied individually to the individual fluid pressure lines as follows:

On the cokeguide machine 31 is mounted' an electric motor 50 operable at will by the operator and connecting by speed reducer 5|r with an air compressor 52 having compression cylinders '53. The air under pressure is stored in receiverf54, from which the air is fed through line 55 having pressure reducingl valves 56 and a exible metal hose 51 attached atl the end of the line 5501i the coke guide machine. Atj its other end the flexible metal hose is provided withV .a coupling element 58 .adapted tope quickly attached to .and detached from a comphnioncouplmg element, one on each ofthe lines 44 and ata level acces:- sible to the cokev guide, machine operator as the machine 314 is-moved along theside of the battery on the bench.V

The lines havetdownwardextensions B0 below where they .pass across under the oven-battery, which extensions are(` provided with .removable capsr 6I, for drainage of said lines with mechanical operation. The lines 44 on the coke sidev are bent out near the beams 2| in order to .passl around the' flanges of the buckstays and over the beams 2 I' to avoid penetrating the. beamsfor passage of said pipes.

In the embodiment of the invention, as shown on the drawing., when the operator of. the` coke guide .machine 31: is about to prepare an oven. I'I for discharge of coke, he advances his machine 31 alongside the same until the door extractor machine 4l isjin front of the door 23 thene he `operates its motors to remove the door 23, whereupon he thenoperates thev motor to move. the whole coke guide machine 31'so as to position'` the door 23 out of the way ofthe door frame ofthe "oven and' position the coke guide 42 in front of At the latter region .actuating Lmeans the open doorway, and then the rack and pinion is operated to press the coke guide 42 in place against the battery face ordoor-jamb. It is thenthat he attaches the flexible hose 51 tothe con- "nection 59 on the. line 44 for that oven, where- '..upon air under pressure flows from the receiver 54 through the lines 55 and 44 to the actuating means 45 for actuating the limit switch having blade 14 for the pusherram 35. Du'e to the construction of the particular coke guide machine 31"shown on the drawing, this necessitates, for convenience of operation by the operator, the connection -of the flexible hose 51 with the iluid pressure line 44 two ovens VAaway from the oven actually being operated. As-wil1 be seen from Fig.. 2, as a result, each fluid pressure line 44 is, as a consequence, individualized to that oven that is two ovens to one sidev thereof, towards. the bottomas viewed in Fig. 2. On the pusher side I4; this necessitates, in the present embodiment ofthe invention, upper branch lines 62, to accommodate both the alternative manual operation, hereinafter described and the convenience of access to the same by the pusher machine operator of the mechanism..V

In the improved control apparatus above described, there is as a result improved safety of operation. However, there is still left chance for error .inoperation rendering futile the precautions' taken, notwithstanding they are all fully The propelling of thecokeguide andpushef machinesfmay still Atake place accidently or intentionally along the battery to an vextent to cause the coke guide car to ..interfere with the vpushing of the coke as a cake out of the oven,-

during pushing, thus jamming up the coke cake in the oven chamber under .compression ofA the ram; and the pushermachine may still be moved causing the ram to gouge the oven heating walls, while the system is interlocked. In addition the pusher machine is a large and cumbersome maf;l

chine 'and the exigencies of operation from the same' by an operator from his control cabin is suchas to make highly desirable the provision of some Ameans for automatically interconnecting the limit-,switch for the pusher ram circuit with the proper fluid pressure line when actuated or energizecl by the coke guide machine operator.

i Tof this end the presentinvention provides improvements in the automaticity of operation` in bothj'. respects as well as a very highlyv needed alternative manual operation available with the,

permit the coke guide machine to be moved along the battery by the movement of the coke guide operator in causing the pneumatic pressure to release. the said actuating mechanism to` interrupt theelectrical circuit for advancing the pusherram 35..`

A'dvantageously, as shown, this automatic means comprises the novel employment of a simple mechanism of the type of the conventional telephone receiver-hook 63. As shown, there is .proyided a switch stand 64 provided with a limit switch comprising an interruption 65 in the electrical circuit of a motor (not shown) for propelling the coke guide machine along the battery. Pivotally mounted on the stand, the hook is adapted to receive the flexible hose 51 when detached from the lines 44. Movable with the hook 63 is a contact element adapted, when the hook is depressed on receiving the flexible hose, to close the interruption 65 in the electrical circuit for propelling the coke guide machine. The hook is normally urged-to move the contact element out of electrical contact with the interruption 65 for the circuit, to open the same, which it does when the hose is removed from the hook by the coke guide operator in attaching it to the respective lines 44.

Referring to Figs. land 2, there is shown like means, automatically operable when the pusher ram electrical circuit, for advancing the pusher ram, is actuated by the interlocking mechanism, for preventing movement of the pusher machine alongside the battery under the action of the electrical motor (not shown) for propelling the pusher machine. As shown, this comprises switch stand 66, receiver hook 61 pivotally mounted thereon, an interruption 68 in the electrical circuit for the motor for propelling the pusher machine. -The hook'61 is adapted to receive a flexible metal hose 69 `and to be depressed when so doing, at which time a contact element is thereby Aoperated to close the interruption in the electrical circuit. The' hook is normally urged to move upwardly, which it does when the hose is removed from the receiver, upon which movement, the contact element for -the interruption is moved to open the interruption in the electrical circuit that is -used to supply current for propelling the pusher machine along the battery, thus preventing such movement of the machine automatically. This hose is as shown, manually operated, at the willI of the operator of the pusher machine 25 at a level readily accessible to him from his operatingv platform or cabin.

Referring to Figs. 1,1a, and 2, therels shown the novel means of inventionfor automatically effecting the interlocking of the electrical Ycircuit for advancing the pusher ram, individually with the individual iluid pressure lines. Advantageously', this takes a form which employs in a novel manner simply the` movement of the pusher machine into its pushing position designated by the pushing schedule, for pushing the designated coke ovens, to effect the interlock.

In carrying out the pushing schedule, the operator starts at one end ofthe battery and moves the machine successively therealong, pushing the ovens seriatum as designated on the schedule, then for the next pushing run the machine is returned to the initial starting point and the next set of pushing operations begins. In moving from oven to oven of the designated ovens in the series to be pushed, the machine is moved quite rapidly, as much as 400 feet per minute.

For effecting the interlock, a bracket 10 is provided on the front of the pusher machine 25 that is next adjacent the pusher alleyway and bench. This bracket 10 supports the interruption 48 in the electrical circuit 49 leadingto the motor 36 for propelling the gear that drives the rack secured bythe pusher ram 35. This interruption contains two contact points. Two leads 12 connect with the motor 36 and both connect with a single one of the two contact points. The purpose of this is to enable the pusher ram-operator to operate the circuit to retract the ram at will. sucncircuit notbeing influenced .inany manner by the interlocking mechanism. 'For advancing the ram however, connection mustbe made between the two contact points to connect the third lead 13 tothe motor 36 with one of the other two leads 12 to complete the vcircuitfor advancing the pusher ram into the ovens. .It is this circuit that is the subject of the interlock and under the control ofthe coke `guide machine operator.

For effecting the interlock the switch blade 114 is provided to move into and out of contact with the above mentioned two contact points. As shown in full lines in Fig. 1a,.the switchis open, its closed position being indicated in dotted'lli'nes. For actuating the switch a depending lever 15 rides between the prongs of a fork `having rollers as shown, for ease of actuation of the `switch blade 14 to its open and closed positions.

The lever 15 is carried, by a rod 16 reciprocable in a bearing 11. Spring 18 normally urges the rodand leve-r, and the arcuate sliding-contact rail 46 hereinafter described... toward the series of individual actuating means 45 for the arcuate sliding-contact rail, whichnormal position is the open position for the limit switch.

. Each of the fluid pressure lines 44 terminates in one of such actuating means 45. It comprises a uid pressure cylinder having a piston therein,.to which is secured an actuatingrod extending through one endlof'the. cylinder and terminating in a rounded knob (or. roller)" .forfree sliding contact with the arcuate sliding-contact .rail 46, forthevactuating of the 'latter to operate its limit switch (14, 48).

Within the cylinder 45 the rod'is encircledby a spring normally urgingthe knob or roller out of the path of the sliding-contact rail'46'. When the coke guide operator operates `the individual fluid pressure lines to cause fluid pressure to act in their cylinders 45, the piston and rod are actuated to move the knobs orro'llers into engagement with the sliding contact rail 46, when it is in position in the path of the cylinders for the individual ovens.

The sliding-contact raily advantageously diverges from its high point 19 atv which'the actual reversal of the limit switch takes place, thisv di# verging being outwardly gradually away from the cylinders 46, in the direction of movement ofthe pusher machine, in carrying out the pushing schedule and this for a' distanceof at least three ovens and'their intermediate heating walls.

This has been found to be an unexpected important feature in practical operation, since it will be found that with a shorter sliding `contact rail, and the rough handling of the'machines that obtains, and the rate at which it is moved along theA battery, from an oven just pushed to the next one to be pushed, thattheactuating rods may bend or break, and leaks spring in the air cylinders rendering the interlockingl system inoperative. f

"For adjusting the degree of movement of the sliding-contact rail for'actuating the switch, an interchangeable fitting 80 is interposed between thesame. .andthe-rod 16.

The sliding-contact rail 46 also'extends, and diverges outwardly, in the opposite direction from the high point to accommodate backing up, uponover-running of an energized air cylinder by they pusher machine. The rail is also mountedfor movement on rollers 8| and Lis keyed to brackets 82 by means of pin andslotrconnections ,83.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, provision is made for` optional manual operation of theelec't'rical circuit interlock for thepuslier ram, in event' this is necessary due to sorneunforseen difliculty in operation of the automatic mechanismy therefor.

As will be seen from Fig'. '1, the'fl-uid pressure lines 44 for automatic operation lead from b'eneath the pusher bench to a .level of just above the wheels of the pusher'V machine. In each line a valve 84 is provided, to be opened for automatic operation and to be closed for manual operation. From above the valve 84', the branches (i2 of the individual iluid pressure lines 44 lead 'upwardly above the pusher Abench 'to a level that is acces. sible tov the operators from an operating platform. These branch lines terminate in adepressible self-sealing valve of the rtype used -on pneumatic tires. On a bracket 85 on the .pusher machine, an air pressure cylinder 86 is provided having like the cylinders 45, a similar piston and piston rod extending` through one end o'fthe cylinder and terminating in contact points. The piston is normally urged to .retract the piston by a spring. The short flexible 4metal hose V69l is connected with this cylinder and is `provic'ed at its other end with a coupling for connection with the valved end of branch lines 62, which latter also have a valve 88; for closing the branches 62 when not in manual operation. Aseparate switch 89 is provided in the motor circuit` for the pusher ram which is a duplicate of that for the automatic interlocking. This .separate 'switch' 4is cut into the circuit so as to by-pass, as shown, the automatically operated switch when manual operation becomes necessary for advancing the pusher ram.

The meansv for supply of air under compression to the lines 44 may be provided, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, in various other manners. For instance the motor, air receiver, and feed lines, as shown for the supply of compressed air from the coke guide machine, may instead be installed 1on the pusher machine, means being provided at the coke side for closing that end of the lines-44, such as, for instance, a valve accessible for operation from the coke guide machine 'and adapted to close the end of the respective lines, and. tobe opened, as to the atmosphere to bleed the respective lines. Further, the `means Vfor supplying the compressed air may comprise connection .of the lines 44 with the decarbonizingfair ,mainn conventionally employed in coke oven batteriesfor' supplying decarbonizing air to the rich gas fuel feed channels that feed the combustion lue's, said decarbonizing air being fed to said channels f while they are idle to gas flow, to burn on' deposited carbon in said channels, their ports and princes; or a separate main and air compressor maybe employed but disposed in the oven battery basement, or alongside the battery, for feeding air under pressure to the lines 44.

An electric indicator light or lights may be provided to indicate whether the individual actuating means 45 of the lines 44 are individtallif in position or not to actuate the operating means for the switch to advance the pusher ram into an oven chamber.

Instead of couplingl the compressor to the oven pipe line 44 by means of a flexible hose', the end position of the upwardly extending part of the pipe line may be arranged horizontally in a" buckstay or in a special mounting carried by the lmasonry or other part' ofthe oven structureand surrounded by a suitable flat or o'therivalveV seatby opening the quick release valve. jan electric indicator light may be adapted to providing member against which may seat a resilient and/or resiliently carried self-sealing v'when it is desired to couple the compressor to the pipe line extending below an oven, the said self-sealing cup is advanced towards the battery and engaged with the seat around the adjacent end of the said pipe line. The advancement of the self-sealing cup towards the said seat may be effected automatically by a portion of the pusher machine or the coke guide machine movable to or from the battery or it may be effected manually. The self-sealing cup may be on the said tube and the seat for the cup on the end of the pipe line instead of the reverse arrangement above described.

Any other suitable automatic or manual means for coupling the oven pipe line with the compressor may be employed instead of those mentioned by way of example above.

Onnthe coke guide machine maybe mounted a pipe which may be referred to as a dead end Pipe. adapted to be connected by a short length of exible metal hose with the coke side end of the oven pipe 44 extendingl below the oven for which the coke guide machine is aligned at any particular time. However, instead of using a quickly detachable and attachable hose of this type for connecting the coke guide machine pipe to the oven pipe line, a manually operable or automatically operated resiliently mounted selfsealing coupling member of the kind described above (with reference to the pusher side of the machine) or any other suitable form of coupling, may be employed.

The said pipe lines 44 may be furnished on the coke guide machine with a quick release means as a valve, whereby the pipe may be sealed so as to prevent the escape therefrom of pressure fluid supplied to the pipe from the oven pipe line and whereby the pressure in the latter may be released when desired.

If, for one reason or another, it is desired to stop the forward stroke of the ram the workman at the coke side of the battery can do this If desired,

light in the pusher machine when the said release -valve is opened. The release valve is also adapted to be used to open the interlocking system t the atmosphere at the completion of the pushing operation so that the hoses of the system may be disconnected from the oven pipe with safety.

` In another arrangement, the coupling may comprise a resilient or like self-sealing cup or similar device such as a tube arranged upon the coke guide machine horizontally and at right' with which the tube is rigidly associate-:l may be xed to the coke guide which is movable to and from the battery in order to engage it in the door frame or to disengage it from the latter.

The battery end of the said tube is provided with ametal cup containing a resilient, e. g.

soft rubber, cup washer or equivalent member supported on the inside by a further metal cup, the said resilient washer projecting beyond the battery edge of the metal cup within which it is contained so that its free edge may seat resiliently upon the portion of the buckstay or other fiat seat surrounding the end of the oven pipe line to which the said tube is to be coupled.

Normally, the said cup washer will be clear of the battery side but when the coke guide machine has been aligned with an oven of the battery and the coke guide moved up into contact withthe oven, the resilient cup washer will automatically be coupled to the end of the pipe line of the corresponding oven. A strong spring may be provided on the tube and arranged so that it will assist in the withdrawal of the cup washer from the battery when the coke guide isy withdrawn from the oven, and the said tube may be capable of resilient axial movement independently of the coke guide so as to allow forany inequalities in the condition of the various buckstays or other parts of the battery with which the cup washer has to engage.

The end of the said tuberemote from the cupwasher and thereof, is coupled by a flexible or other suitable conduit to the compressor and a Inf-way control Valve may be furnished whereby this connection may be interrupted and the 'cornpressor opened to exhaust or to other apparatus on the coke guide as desired.

The invention as herein above set forth is embodied in particular form and manner but may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim:

l. The combination with: a pusher machine for a horizontal coke oven battery; a ram mounted on said machine; and a control means on said pusher machine comprising an electrical circuit control switch normally rendering said pusher ram inoperative in the forward direction; and pneumatic fluid pressure operated means individualized to the respective ovens of said battery and adapted to operate said switch to enable the pusher ram to make its forward stroke only when its pusher machine and a coke guide machine are aligned at opposite sides of a said battery with one and the same oven; and means on a said coke guide machine to prevent operation of a motor for driving said coke guide machine, said means being automatically operable by the movement o an operator of the coke guide machine in individuallycontrolling the flow of pneumatic pressure in a -line individual to an oven when aligned with the coke guide; of an arcuate sliding contact rail on the pusher machine, said rail being normally urged towards said pneumatically operable actuating means for the fluid pressure lines and operable by individual sliding engagement with said pneumatically operable actuating means of the individual fluid pressure lines, when the 4latter are energized, to operate the switch for advancing the pusher ram; said contact rail diverging gradually awayv fromr the said actuating means in the direction of movement of the pusher machine for pushing, for a distance of at least three oven chambers and their intermediate heating walls; manually operable means for optional manual interconnection of the pusher ram advancing circuit individually with the individual fluid pressure lines, said means comprising a switch for cutting into the pusher ram advancing circuit so as to by-pass aforesaid automatically operated switch therefor;

operatorsstation on the pusher machinefor'manual'` connection with theindividual fluid pressure lines, for the optional operation of the manually operable means; and means on the pusher machine, operable by the operator, for automatically preventing operation of a motor for propelling the pusher machine alongside the battery while the pusher ram circuit is completedV by the aforesaid fluid pressure line interlock, andV for automatically permitting such propelling' movement while the pusher ram circuit is broken by the aforesaid fluid pressure line interlock.

2. The combination with: control means on a pusher machine for a horizontal coke oven batleast three oven chambers and their intermediate heating walls.

4. The combination with: control means on, ay

. pusher machine inoperative in the forward ditery, comprising an electrical circuit control I switch normally rendering a pusher ram on said pusher machine inoperative in the forward direction; and pneumatic uid pressure operated.

means individualized to the respective ovens of 'said battery and adapted to operate said control switch to enable the pusher ram to make its forward stroke only when its pusher machine and a coke guide machine are aligned at opposite sides. of a said battery with one and the same oven;`

and means operable by the movement of an operator on the coke guide machine for automa? operating means being operable by the actuating:`

means of individual lines when energized to operate the switch for advancing the pusher ram, manually operable means for optional manual inter-connection of the pusher ram advancing circuit individually with the individual fluid pressure lines, said means comprising a switch for cutting into the pusher'advancing circuit so as to by-pass the said automatically operated switch, and means accessible to the pusher machine operators station for manual connection with the individual duid pressure lines for optional operation of the manually connected switch.

3. The combination with: control means on a pusher machine for a horizontal coke oven battery, comprising an electrical circuit control switch normally rendering a pusher ram n said pusher machine inoperative in the forward direction; and pneumatic lluid pressure operated means individualized to the respective ovens 4of said battery and adapted to operate said control switch to enable the pusher ram to make its forward stroke only when its pusher machine and a coke guide machine are aligned at opposite sides of a said battery with one and the same oven; and means operable by the movement` said operating means comprising an arcuate sli-ding-contact rail normally urged towards the aci tuating means for the fluid pressure lines and operable by sliding individual engagement the actuating means of individual lines whenfenergized to operate the switch for advancing the pusher ram, said rail diverging gradually away from the said actuating means in the direction of movement for pushing for a distance of'lfat rection; and pneumatic uid pressureA operated means individualized to the respective ovens of said battery and adapted to operate said control switch to enable the pusher ram to make its forward stroke only when its pushenmachine and a coke guide machineare aligned, at .oppositesides of a said battery with one and the same oven: and means operable by the movement of' an operator on the coke guide machine for automatically individually controlling the flow of pneumatic pressure in a line individual to an oven only when it is in alignment with the coke guide; of operating means movable from oven to oven with the pusher machine for automatically operating the switch for the pusher ram circuit, said operating means being operable by the actuating means for individual lines when energized to operate the switch for advancing the pusher ram, and means on the coke guide machine automatically operable by the movement of its operator in individually controlling the flow of pneumatic pressure to, and release of it from, the individual fluid pressure lines, for preventing,the operation of a motor and for permitting the operation of the motor, respectively, in driving the coke guide car along the coke side of the battery.

5. The combination with: control means on a pusher machine for a horizontal coke oven battery, comprising an electrical circuit control switch normally rendering a pusher ram on said pusher machine inoperative in the forward direction; and pneumatic fluid pressure operated means individualized to the respective ovens of said battery and adapted to operate said control switch to enable the pusher ram to make its forward stroke only when its pusher machine and a coke guide machine are aligned at opposite sides of a said battery with one and the same oven; and means operable by the movement of an operator on the coke guide machine for automatically individually controlling the ow of pneumatic pressure in a line individual to an oven only when it is in alignment with the coke guide; of operating means movable from oven to oven with the pusher machine for automatically operating the switch for the pusher ram circuit, said operating means being operable by the actuating means of individual lines when energized to operate the switch for advanc-l ing the pusher ram, and traversal-lock means on at least one of the two, coke guide and pusher machines operable by its operator for automatically preventing operation of a motor for propelling the machine alongside the battery while the pusher ram circuit is completed through the aforesaid iluid pressure line interlock, and for automatically permitting such propelling movement when the pusher ram circuit is broken by release of fluid pressure in the fluid pressure line interlock.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and in which the traversal-lock means comprises a ilexible metal hose for detachable connection with each of the individual fluid pressure lines, an interruption in an electrical circuit for the motor for propelling the machine alongside the battery, a telephone receiver hook having means for'- closing the interruption and normally urged to open position, said hook being disposed in position to support said hose when detached from the individual fluid pressure lines and to be moved thereby, thus placing' .the means for closing the interruption in its closing position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and in which the traversal-lock means comprises a flexible metal hose for detachable connection with each of the individual iluidj pressure lines, an interruption in an electrical circuit for the motor for propelling-V the machine'alongside the battery, a receiver having means for closing the interruption and normally urged to open position, said receiver being disposed in position to sup- 16 port said hose when detached from the individual fluid pressure lines and to be moved thereby, thus placing -the means for closing the interruption in its closing position.

' PAUL HOWARD LAVELY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

